Northern Cod Quota Hike Defies Science, Risks Collapse
Capelin mismanagement undermines cod rebuilding as forage fish crisis continues
Press Release Date: June 18, 2025
Halifax, NS, Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People –Today, Fisheries Minister Thompson more than doubled the commercial quota for northern cod — from 18,000 tonnes to 38,000 tonnes — despite clear warnings from scientists and legal obligations under the Fisheries Act. Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) own assessment projects a 71 per cent chance of further decline within three years, risking a return to the critical zone by 2028. By shifting benchmarks and overlooking warning signs of low productivity, reduced age structure, and food limitations, this decision dangerously misrepresents “recovery” and abandons responsible fisheries management.
The decision was made alongside the rollover of the 2024 capelin quota at 14,533 tonnes. Capelin, the key food source for northern cod, remains at just 16 per cent of its pre-collapse population, and has failed to recover for more than three decades. Yet, DFO continues to manage both fisheries without the science-based safeguards needed for real rebuilding.
“This wasn’t a science-based decision — it was a political choice made under pressure, not precaution. Canada has already paid the price for overfishing this fragile stock, and now DFO is at risk of repeating the mistake: ignoring science, exceeding stakeholder advice, and opening the door to increased fishing while cod remains weak and projected to decline. This was a clear opportunity to rebuild the fishery for the long term. Instead, the government traded it away for short-term gain that benefits only a few, putting ecosystems, livelihoods, and public trust at serious risk,” said Rebecca Schijns, Fishery Scientist, Oceana Canada.
“The northern cod quota hike and the capelin rollover show that DFO is still bowing to industry pressure, instead of rebuilding for the future. Capelin remain at only 16 per cent of their pre-collapse population and are the primary reason cited for the lack of recovery of northern cod. Yet, the Minister even referenced the 2025 decline in capelin as a justification for a quota rollover, ignoring the science, the reality in the water, and basic ecology,” said Jack Daly, Marine Scientist, Oceana Canada.
Capelin and northern cod lack upper stock reference points to define a healthy population size, as well as harvest decision rules, and other science-based indicators essential for informed decision-making and rebuilding efforts. As a result, DFO has spent over three decades managing capelin without science-based safeguards — and is now ramping up pressure on a still-depleted cod population with no guardrails in place to prevent overfishing. The requirements are clear: both cod and capelin need upper stock reference points, harvest decision rules, and full monitoring to ensure accountability and real recovery. Instead, this year’s decisions move the country further away from transparency, resilience, and sustainability.
A path to abundance is within reach
Oceana Canada’s economic analysis shows that a fully rebuilt northern cod fishery could create 16 times more jobs and generate five times more economic value within a decade — restoring a vital way of life and sustainable livelihoods for coastal Newfoundland and Labrador. Rebuilding capelin and cod together would support communities, secure food sources, and ensure a resilient future for the next generations.
Oceana Canada calls on DFO to:
- Immediately add 2J3KL capelin to the Fish Stock Provisions of the Fisheries Act.
- Implement science-based upper stock reference points and harvest decision rules by next year.
- Fully implement the Fishery Monitoring Policy for accurate, transparent catch reporting.
“Canada’s ocean comeback will only happen if our leaders choose science, accountability, and abundance over short-term politics. The next generations deserve nothing less,” said Schijns.
Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international
advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to ban single-use plastics, end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future. Find out more at Oceana.ca.
